A war of words erupted between one gutsy Mayo supporting family and their Dublin neighbours when the blue side tried to enter enemy grounds – the front garden of the Crossmolina clan.

But all was well in the end between neighbours and friends, the Collins family, from the Heather County and their Dublin neighbour, boxer Evan Metcalfe, 24, proudly managing to wave his blue flag right on the enemy’s turf.

But Mayo mammy, Winnie Collins, 49, was having none of the Dubliner’s lip as she modelled her red and green colours in true diplomatic fashion.

The Collins family have caused quite the stir on Captains Road, Crumlin, where they are parading their county colours on a street swimming in blue – ahead of the GAA All-Ireland final between the two teams on Sunday.

Red and green bunting, posters, and decorations are spread across the family’s garden and house right beside the neighbouring colours of blue, showed off by Evan on Wednesday.

“Up Mayo,” Winnie shouted as her neighbour moved to cross her garden line hoisting his Dublin flag high. “Up the Dubs,” Evan, a boxer at Crumlin Boxing Club, shouted back.

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It seemed fisticuffs could erupt between the young fighter and the quiet male members of the Collins clan – but luckily Winnie shook hands with her confident Dublin enemy to bring about peace in Crumlin.

“I’ve been in Dublin 29 years,” said Winnie. “But while I live here, my heart is in Crossmolina, so it’s Mayo for Sam.

“It’s been 65 long years since Sam came back to his rightful home and it’s time to bring him back again.

“We will rub the Dubs’ noses in it on Sunday and I’ll be celebrating for the entire month.

“Every time my side scores I’ll be blasting out the Red and Green of Mayo by the Saw Doctors out of my windows.

“Myself, my husband Bernard and my two sons will be watching the game together and we can’t wait to beat Dublin.”

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But as Evan came closer with typical “they think they can win it all attitude,” Winnie smiled and admitted: “It’s only a bit of banter – we like our neighbour really.”

Evan told the Irish Mirror that him and the rest of the Dublin supporting street could avoid the Saw Doctors on Sunday – and he hoped he would still get a ticket for Croker .

“It’s going to be a Dublin win,” he said waving the flag. “I mean, these are grand people and everyone gets on but we are Dubs and they are Mayo.

“I think Dublin are just the better team – but I have to give it to them for showing their colours – it’s all a laugh and in honesty, I wish them the best on Sunday – but like, I still want Dublin to win.”

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Pauline and Vincent McHugh, who are known as being “Dubs mad,” have been married for 35 years and after meeting at the Auld Dubliner on a blind date in the 80s, it was pretty clear the Dubs were going to be a huge part of the McHugh’s lives.

Vincent, 74, who’s dressed the terrace’s garden with bunting and an impressive Dubs’ poster labelled “Heroes come and go but legends are forever, I’ve loved the Dubs since I was a boy and now me and Pauline go to see them play every year", he said.

“We see our friends at games, we love it.”

Pauline, 76, added: “The All Ireland is bigger than Christmas for us. I always liked football because I had cousins who played it when we were young. But when I met Vincent, that was it – it became a major part of our lives.

“I went on dates with him to games and we still travel round the country to watch the team, summer or winter.”

And the couple, who will be at Croke Park on Sunday, could just have the key to what makes a happy marriage – a slice of football fever.

“It’s great to be able to share something with your partner,” Pauline said. “And we both love Dublin and each other.”

Yvonne Herd-Foster, 35, from Ballyfermot , has also dressed her garden in blue flags, gnomes and posters to mark the biggest day of her year – which she’ll enjoy with camera shy hubby, Eddie.